Spring egg-crate.



No. 65l,887. Patented lune l9, I900.

J. P RILEY.

SPRING EGG CRATE.

(Application filed Oct. 10, 1899.)

(No Model.)

N, l1 c3 TH: "cams PETERS ca. PHOTD-LITHQ. wnsnmcm .N TED STATES PATENT Grmce.

JESSE P. RILEY, OF POINT, LOUISIANA.

SPRING EGG-()RATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 651,887, dated June 19, 1900.

Application filed October 10, 1899. Serial No. 733,184. (No model.)

T at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JESSE P. RILEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Point, in the parish of Union, State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring Egg-Crates; and I do hereby declare the following to beafull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to eg -crates; and it has for one object to provide a crate which will be cheap and simple in its construction and in which the eggs may be easily placed and from which they may be readily removed, a further object of the invention being to provide means for preventing the breaking of eggs in shipment.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts'in the several views, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the crate closed. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the crate with the lid raised, and Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal vertical section.

Referring now to the drawings, in constructing a crate in accordance with this invention there is secured to a base end pieces 5 and 6, intermediate which is secured a central piece 7, and to which pieces 5, 6, and 7 and also to the rear edge of the base is fixed a back 8, the upper edges of the end and intermediate pieces and the base lying flush. To the front edges of the pieces 5, 6,'and 7 and longitudinal of the case is a front 9, substantially twothirds the height of the complete case, and secured to the outer faces of the end pieces 5 and 6 and just below the upper edges thereof are horizontal strips and 11, which project beyond the front edges of the end pieces, as shown. A lid 13 is hinged to the back 8 and projects over the strips 10 and 11 and is provided upon its projecting portions with downwardly-extending flanges 14: and 15, which are adapted to lie upon the said strips. The

width of the lid 13 is such that said lid covers the entire width of the case, including the front and back, and hingedly connected to that portion which projects over the front is a supplemental lid 16, whichis adapted to lie between the flanges 14 and 15 and to engage the upper edge of the front 9, in which position it is adapted to be fixed through the medium of the hasp 17, mounted upon the supplemental lid and adapted to cooperate with a staple 18, carried by the front 9, to hold the supplemental lid, and therewith the main lid, in closed positions. As a further means for preventing raising of the lid 13, the ends of the supplemental lid 16 are pro vided with outwardly extending pins 18, which are adapted to swing and lie beneath the projectingends of the strips 10 and 11, and thus prevent upward movement of the main and supplemental lids. Thus if the lids be closed audit is desired to open the case it is necessary first to disengage the hasp from the staple and then to swing the pegs, with the supplemental lid, from beneath the strips 10 and 11, after which the said lids may be raised. 7

In order to absorb excessive vibration in the shipment of eggs, there is provided a spring-cushion for the top and bottom of each of the compartments at each side of the intermediate-piece 7. Each of these cushions consists of two yieldable sections 20 and 21, of thick pasteboard or similar material, held separated through the medium of helical springs 22. In practice one of these cushions is placed in the bottom of each compartment and thereupon are disposed the cells for the reception of the eggs in the usual manner.

When the required nu mber of cells have been contributed tothe compartment, a similar cushion is placed in the second compartment and which compartment is similarly filled. The lid may be then lowered and the case securely closed, as above described. It will thus be seen that the lowness of the front of the casing permits the ready insertion and removal of the matter placed in the compartments, while the cushions absorb excessive vibration and prevent breaking of the eggs. Also it will be noted thataccidental opening of the case is entirely prevented, due to the fact that the opening strainis taken from the locking mechanism and placed upon more durable portions of the structure.

It will of course be understood that inpractice the height of the case is sufficiently greater than the usual case to permit the insertion of the usual number of eggs in addition to the cushions, and also that in the manufacture of the case the proportions shown may be varied, while any desired dimensions and materials may be used.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. An egg-case comprising a bottom having sides and end pieces fixed thereto, strips carried by the end pieces, a lid hinged to the back, and a supplemental lid hinged to the last-named lid and adapted to lie upon the front of the case and having projections adapted to lie beneath the said strips.

2. An egg-case comprising a base having a back and ends fixed thereto and two front pieces extending upwardly from the base and partway of the height of the endpieces, resulting inan open top and a partial open front, strips connect-ed to the end pieces and projecting therebeyond, alid adapted to cover the top of the case, a supplemental lid hinged to the first-named lid and adapted to cooperate with the front piece to close the front of the case and projectionsupon the supplemental lid adapted to lie beneath the projecting portions of the strips and prevent forward movement of the lids.

3. An egg-case comprising a base having ends secured thereto, a back secured to the basevand'endsa front piece secured to the base andends and'extending part way upwardly of the ends, a lid adapted to complete the closure of the front, strips secured to the end pieces'below their upper edges and projecting beyond the end pieces, projections carried by the supplemental lid and adapted to lie beneath the projecting portions of the strips to prevent upward movement of the main and supplemental lids, and flanges carried by the main lid and adapted to lie upon said strips.

'In testimony whereof I ,afiix my signature in presenoe'of two witnesses.

JESSE P. RILEY.

Witnesses:

Ron J. WILLSON, F. L; HOOD. 

